Self-cleaning aerator



March 15, 1960 H. sHAMl-:s ET AL 2,928,607

` SELF-CLEANING AERATOR Original Filed May 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l lmm March l5, 1960 H. sHAMEs ET AL 2,928,607

SELF-CLEANING AERATOR Original Filed May 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 202 l1/ A 1 `7z0g ,200 i i f 6 w s 55 25 2,928,661 SELF-CLEANNG AERATOR Harold Shanies and Sidney J. Shames, Ardsley, origami appiicationMay e,-195`4'seriai No. 425325. Divided and this application May 6, 1959, Serial No. 811,434

ro claims; (ci, 239-107) This application a division of our copen'ding application Serial No. 427,925, filed May 6, 1954, which appli-V rooms have included at least one upstream foraminous metering member, such as a screen, or diaphragm having a plurality of line perforations therethrough, for-initially dividing up the flow of water passingthrough the aerator into a plurality of high velocity jets, and have included one or morel downstream screens. One of the greatest diiiiculties encountered in the use of aerators of this type is the tendency of the upstream screen or perforated diaphragmto become clogged with lthe tiny particles of dirt and sand which are carried by the water that is being discharged from the faucet. These'tiny particles of dirt and sand may be suspended in the water supply' and.v often are small enough' to pass the water iiltering sys-tem, or they may be picked up as the water passes through the water pipes in the home. In any event, they accumulateon the perforated diaphragm or screen and prevent full, eiiicient operation of the aerator. As the perforated diaphragm or screen becomes clogged, the amount of water which passes throughthe aerator is reduced, and in addition undesirablel back pressures are b uilt up.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide an ,aerator for liquids having liquid metering orifices formed by thev mating surfaces of a plurality of separable members, with means for maintaining said orifices vfree .of

2,928,607 Patented Mar. 15,' 1960 outlet of the aeratorandwthe in teriorof the aerator; being damp ancxlwhaving residuewater therein, provides an excellent breedingplace for a colony` of bacteria, The above criticism. has ybeeriraisedl particularly with respect to the'useofiaerators'in places where sanitation is of utmost importance, such as in hospitals and schools. Thus, still an additional object of this invention is to provide an aerator `which obva'tes the above'A criticism of domestic typeaerators. s i One of the importantfactors in the product produc-l tion potential of the United States is' the use of high speed machinetools. A ll high speed tools have thein`- herent problems of heat dissipation and length oftool life. These problems'have been partially soiv'ed bythe use of coolants in conjuncton with` the worl'cutting@ operation of the' machine `tools", by directing streams' o`f coolants onto the wolcbeing" machined and ontothe tool performing its' operation on the wo'rk. Hou/ever, theA use' of coolants has, itself, givenris'eto other p robf 16ms arisingvfrom the faf.-thft,fh991antsplashes Off the workfor tool' and generaliywresults in very sloppy and unsafe oor conditions surrounding the machine'.

At the same time",' th`e`se"mla`cliin tool coolants are quite expensive and it is desirable that the loss of coolant be' reduced as muchas possible'.

VvStill further, becausey of the high speed of movement (often rotary) lof Athe work and tool, it is di'iiicult-to maintain the surfaces of the work or tool wet with the coolant and the coola'rfts' must' often be supplied in great quantities and at high Yspeeclfand pressure.

The supplying'v of coolant -to mach'i" 'e'tools in high velocity and high pressure" streams' -further contributes to the splash problem` alove rfoted. In addition,` the failure of the surfaceV of tlre".work,` orv of 'the tool, to remain f wet `decreases the efiiciency of heat dissipation, decreases the eiciency kof ,the cutting action of th'e tool, and decreases thetoollife.v

Thus, oneV object' of this invention is to provideV a novel and improved method of usingma'ch'ine tools by means of'which heatdissipation from the `work and from the tool may be'increase, the: cutting action =of the tool impurities, whereby there is no reduction in the quantity of liquid lioW which the aerator is adapted to accom- .modate` ,Another object ot this invention is to provide anaera- `tor for liquids, which aerator is adapted to be cleaned rof tloiv restricting impurities without disassemblingY said `aerator or removing it from itsl operative environs.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatically self-cleaning aerator for liquids.

They use of a perforated metering disc or screen for initially dividing the ilow of water through the aerator upinto aplurality ofV tine high velocity jets has, recently, been criticized as unsanitary. The essence of the complaint is that after the iiow of water is turned off, and when using an aerator, some residue portion of'water remainsA in the aerator upstream ofthe metering disc i and work is very greatly reducedf Correspondingly, they or screen and is prevented from running out under the ,may beenhancemand whereby. theflife ofthe machine tool maybe increased.Y i Y' -Ajfrthasbia sit ,hi iiivtiitisio rvid. a novel and improved method of using'ir'iaohine, toolsprovided with liquid `cooiant means, by ansrof which the loss of coolant arid sloppy iior'wconditions,.Surrounding the machine may be substantially eliminated.

Another object .of this inveii'is t0 provide a nevel.

and improved methofdofusing machine tools provided with liquid coolant'ineans, b y means of which the wektting of the work, and .of the tool, the coolant, both as to theactual physical concept of wetting and as to' the length of time that die wetting exists, is greatly increased.

The novel' and improved method of this invention which accomplishes the objects s 'et'forth immediately above coniprises: the steps of heavily'aerating the liquid coolant a's' it is being discharged onto the-surface of the to'ol orwork, so that the coolant contains iine air bubbles; l

It has been found that Whena stream of heavily aerated machine tool coolant is used instead of a stream of ordinary coolant, the amount of coolant splash from the; tool sloppy door conlitiml condition yaround the machine` is, to the rgreater part, prevented and in some instancescorpletelyeliminated.

In a dition, thev pr'sncedof bubbles thecoolant enhances thewwetting action ofthe coolant and causes a thin lilm of coolant to"cling`t6 the silrfacesof the work therein a great multitude of on greatly increases the heat dissipation from both the tool and the work, and in over-all performance results in enhanced cutting action of the tool and increases the life of the cutting tool. Furthermore, the thin surface film is not as sensitive to centrifugal forces which maybe developed by rotating membersand the surface tension of the aerated liquid is often suflicient to keep'the film of liquid on the surfaces of the tool and of the work despite centrifugalvforces to which the Vfilm of coolant may beA subjected. p

' "However, the passing of machine tool coolants through an aerator poses a serious problem. In generaLthe aeration-of any recirculating liquid poses the problem of 'clogging, or fouling, of the aerator by the dirt theV liquid picks up as it comes in contact with dirt, or that is picked up through the medium of dirt laden air that is aspirated into the aerator and is `intimately mixed'with `the ,liquid 'that is later recirculated. Machine tool coolants,-because"of their expensiveness, are usually recaptured and 7recirculate'd through the machine. It is inherent that the coolant will have therein, in addition to dirt acquired from `the dust laden air, ne chips, or shavings, from the work being operated on by'the machine tool.

Thus, another object of this mvention is to providea novel and improved aerator for use with liquids that areV recirculated throughthe aerator, which aerator. is provided with means for cleaning the aerator without disassembling the aerating mechanism within the aerator.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds the parts when liquid is owing therethrough; Vand this aerator beingadditionallyprovided with a splash reducing means, in the form of a screen, at its outlet end; f

Figure 2 is a cross-section view taken substantiallyl on line 2-2 ofFigurel; p Y f y' l t Figure 3 is a cross-section view of a portion Vof the self-'cleaning aerator of Figure 1,V showing portions of the,

aerator mechanism in position for flushing out the metering orifices and means for maintaininggsrlid`portionst of aerator in the flushing-out position even 'whenj water is flowing therethrough; y

i Figure 3A is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 and illustrates a modiiied form of the device of-Figure 3; Figure 4 Vis a cross-section view of an aerating device having the self-cleaning features shown in Figure 1 and being provided at its outlet end with means for-discharging the aerated liquid in a plurality of discrete aerated streams; l Y

Figure 5 is a cross-section view of an 'aerating device similar to that shown in Figure 1 but providedwith a flared discharge nozzle for dischargingthe aerated Water in a stream of apredetermined shapesubstantially diffelentfrom the shape of the discharge stream in Figure 1, and which discharge stre'am shape is of very great'length compared toits width; A e a.

Figure 6 is a Ifragmentary bottom view. of thefaerator shown in Figure 5 and is taken looking upwardly 'toward the aerator shown 4in Figu're'S;V i V` Figure V7 is a cross-sectionview of acornmercial-form of the self-cleaning coolant aerator;

Figure 8 isa cross-sectionvvie'w showing the aerator of Figure 7f'provided with a stop-washer adapted t0 engage the plug member and provided with a, flexiblehose at the outlet end which alord means for directing thevaerated uid to wherever it is desiredrand l' "i1 asaeoa. Y j

Figure 9 is a plan view of the stop-washer shown in Figure 8. A I

In the aerator shown in Figure 1, there is provided a casing 150, an annular guide ring 152, and a central plug member 154 having an upper gear disc portion 156 and a ball portion 158 depending therefrom. The gear disc 156 cooperates with the guide ring 152 to define uid metering passageways therebetween. The guide ring 152 is also providedV with conical guide surface 160 for direct- Ving the flow of liquid conically inwardlyonto the rounded surface of the ball member 158 from whence the liquid rebounds into the aeration chamber 162 wherein the fluid is intimately. mixed with air aspirated `into the casing through air inlets 164. vDownstream of the ball member 158 there is positioned a support member, or spider, 166 which is supported on a shoulder formed in the wall of casing 150. The spider 166 has a central hub portion 170 havinga boss 172 thereon and a vertical bore 174 throughsaid'hub portion 170 and throughsaid boss por.- tion172. ,L

There is formed on ,the underside of the ball member 158 a central irecess 176. A helical spring 178 is positioned between the spider 166 and the plug member` 154. In particular,` the spring 178 is positioned on the spider for fitting over the boss 172 with the upper end of the helical spring entering the recess 176 and engaging the plug member 154. Thehelical spring 178 is formed of such length and has such a spring constant that when there is no liquid passing throughthe aerator, then the plug member 154 is moved to the`position`fshown in` Figure 3 where the ow metering pasageways are opened. When liquid is passing through the aerator thepressure of liquid is operative to 'compress the helicalspring 178 and tofmove the plug memberdownwardly to the position shown in Figure l, wherein the ow passageways between the. gear disc 156 land the guide ring 152 'are reformed so that theaerator operates. f

VThe movement of the plug member `154 to the position in Figure 3 is operative to dislodge dirt that may-accumulate between the lteeth of the gear disc and the wall of guide ring 152, and in addition; upon the initial flow of liquid through the aerator, said initial flow is operative to flush outthe dirt from the fluid metering passage-` ways.

` The b all member 158'is provided with a downwardly depending flange 180 which extends around the edge 'of the recess 176. The purpose of flange 180 is to further assure alignment between the helical-'spring 178 and the plugmember `154 and to keep foreign matter out.

The spider 166 carries in the bore 174 therethrough, a manually operable stem member 182. i The upper portion 1830i the'stem member-182 is enlarged so that it will seat upon boss 172 and thus the stem member 182 is retained in position on-the spider 166. The upper portion 183 `ofthe stem member is positioned substantially concentrically within the helical coil 178. The stem member andthe wall of the recess 176 cooperate to define an annularwspace within which the helical coil 178is positioned. The otherpurpose of stem 182 is that when the lower end of the aerator is` open and accessible therethrough, as shown vin Figure 3, the stem182 may be v manually lifted to the position shown in'Figure 3, where the upper terminal edge of the stem 182 engages plug member 154 and maintains the plug member 154 in the elevated position against the pressure of liquid that may Y 4be passing'through theaerator. t

' The use of the stem 182 is optional in `flushing out the aerators flow metering passageways. There'are `certain benets obtained by using stem 182,1rather than using the spring-type cleaning features. In order toinsure flushing out of the fluid tlow passageways, the plug member 154 may be manually maintained in the elevated position-by means of stem 182, as `shown in Figure 3, and

then the How is` initiated through the aerator.` The pressure of `the'uid passing the edges of the gear disc 156 and passing through' the bore' inthe guidejring 1 52 `is operative top cleanvof the'i'low` definingedgesy and' thus insures the' ilushing out of the flow passageways.l The dirt and debris are carried` by the liquid downwardly through the apertures 167 in the spider 166 and out from theV discharge end of the aerator. v Y. Y v

While the stemY 182 is shown as separate and apart fromr the plug memberv154, it will be appreciated that the stem member 132 may' be formed integral with, or connected directly to, the plug member 154 in any appropriate manner, and thus the stem member 182 may be movable with the plug member 154 rather tha'nbeingy separate from the plug member, as shown in Figures 1 3.` Figures 3A kshows the stem member 182 butt welded at 183to the plug member 154. y

The outlet end of the aeratorv shown in Figure ll is provided with a' screenl 184 which is retained in position by means ofV an annular ring 186 which is removably threaded to thelower end of the casing150. An appropriate rubber seal, or washer, 188 may be provided between the screen 134 and thelower terminal edge of the casing 150. The aerator may be used either with the screen 184, as shown in Figure 1, or without the screen, as shown in Figure 3. In order to manually operate the stem 182 in the manner described above, it is necessary where the screen 184 and ring 186 are used to remove said members so as to obtain access to the stem 182,-` as shown in Figure 3. v

The aerator shown in Figure is substantially the same Aas the aerator shown in Figures 1 and 3 except that the outlet end of the aerator is provided with means for delivering' the Iaerated stream in a stream of a particular cross section. These means include an annular ringl portion 190 adapted to be threaded to the lower end of thecasing 150 and which also serves to retain the screen 184 in position. Downstream of theY screen 184 Vthe means are shaped to dene a discharge aperture of very great length as compared with the width, as best seen in Figure 6. This discharge shape may be referred to as a' fish-tail 192. The primary purpose of sucha shape is to,

deliver an aerated stream of relatively greater length as compared with the diameter of the aerator casing.

*In the/aerator shown in` Figure 4, 4the aerating device i's 'adapted to deliver aerated streams in a large plurality of distinct and separate aerated streams. For that purpose there is provided a transverse portion 194 which extends acrossftheoutlet ofthe aerator and which has a plurality ofwbores 196 therethrough.` The axesof bores 196 are generally axially converging upstream of the-transverse portion 194 and thus the aerator of Figure 15 delivers a plurality of divergent aerated streams. The `form of the aerator 'shown in Figure 4 could be used as an aerated shower head or aerated spray. lThe total area of the bores 196 shouldbe so related to the inside cross-section area of the casing 150 such that no undesirable back pressure r is built up in the aerator which would destroy the aerating operation of the aerator. In other words, the size of the bores 196 should be lof such size as to accommodate the entire flo-w of aerated liquid which is being produced bythehaerator upstream of the transverse portion 1 194.

Figure 7 shows a commercial model of self-cleaning coolant aerator that has proved to bevery successful in -actual operations. Briefly, the aerator of Figure 7 includesa casing, or barrel, 200, havingair ports 202 therein, the combination guide and support'ring 204, the plug member 206 having gear disc 208 and depend-Y ing ball 210, said 4ball having recess 212 in its underside. ThereA is alsoVV provided a spider 214 which may be retained in position by a press-fit ring 216, and helical spring 218 resting' on spider 214 and enteringl recess 212 to normally( bias the gear disc 208 away from the cooperating surfaces Yof guide ring"2l4. The downstream en d of the easing` G is provided with screen 22* re tained in` positionby annular cap kets 224 and'v 226 are alsoprovided.

222. Appropriate gas-V providing means for Ydirecting the aerated` stream in` any direction desired;` p The flexible hose is of well known" constructionk including a sheath 230.0f flexible material wrapped around a helicalwire coil 232'. .The tlexible hose 228Y is vsecuredby any. appropriate bonding means trc'rciap"A 222as shown, andthe outlet end of thel hose 22S maybe provided with a discharge nozzle 234. d

The aerator of Figure Sis further provided witha stop-washer; '235 having a plurality of inwardly extending arms 237 spaced above and overlying the plug member 206A. jThe vstop-washer 235 prevents the plugrmember 206' from falling outwhen the aerator is used in' a horizontal or inverted position. The stop-washerr235 is also adapted to engage the plug member 206 when the spring 218`pushes the plug member away from: its operating position within guide ring 204,V and stop-,Washer 235 thus acts to limit, or stop, the motion of plug member206. An appropriate' sealing gasket, or washer, 236 is provided.

The aerators described herein may be used domestically in kitchens and bathrooms and may also be used industrially for use with machine tool coolants. yThe self-cleaning aerator of Figure 7 has been found to be particularly successful in aerating recirculating machine tool coolants without clogging thereof by the dirtv and debris suspended in the coolant.

Thus, thel selffcleaning'aerator as described herein may be used for any household or industrial application, Where it is desired to obtain either an aerated and/or a non# Vsplash flow of liquid, which liquid might normally contain either particles, or sediment, or perhaps other foreign matter. In industrialY applications, the non-splash uid obtains a better wetting action, and thus is used Wherever it is desired to Ycool or wash any material.r d

The aerators can also be usedV for aerating liquid comestibles, such as thawed out frozen fruit juices, for the purpose of enhancing thewflavor thereof by restoring .a more normal avor thereto by' incorporating air into the liquid comestible that is processed through the aefatr' v While therehasbeen shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obviousA to those skilled in the art' that various changes and moditications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefor, it isintended in the appendV ed claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.V

ters Patent of the United States, is: v

l. A liquid aerator comprising a casing having its up-` stream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said casing having -air inlets therein, means Within the casing for ingesting air into said casing through the air inlets and for breaking up the liow of liquid passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid withl air ingested through said air inlets, whereby thc liquid issuing from the Vdownstream end of the casing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means including a pair` of flow control members having adjacent mating surfaces which form liquid flow passageways therebetween, one of said ow control membersfbeing movable with respect to the other flow control member so yas to expose theV surfaces of said now control members which are adapted to mate to formsaid liquid low passageways to permit flushing of said surfaces byvliquid passing through the aerator, a support member in the casing downstreamy of said ow control members, resilient means positioned between said `support member What we claim as new, andV desire torsecure by Let# and said movablev flow control member vand normally' biasing saidmovable'ow control member to a position Wherev said" flow passageways" are open, and said surfaces:

which are' adapted for mating to form Asaid flow passageways are exposed to permitushing thereof, and the pressure of liquid owing through said aerator being operative to overcome Athe bias ofsaid resilient means to moveV said movable flowcontrol member to a position l Y where the flow passageways. arefre-formed and the apparatus functions to fpredueeflaerated ow of liquid, and a screen in said casing spaced downstream of said support member.

2. A liquidaerator .comprising a casing having its upstream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, ,said casing having air inlets therein, means within the casing for sucking air into theV casing through the air inlets and for breaking up ,the flow of liquid passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid with air sucked in through said air inlets, whereby the liquid issuing from the downstream end'of the casing has small bubbles dissen'iinated throughout, said means including a pair of ow control members having adjacent mating surfaces which form liquid flow passageways therebetween, one of saidvllow control members being movable Vwith respect to the other ow control member so as to expose the surfaces of said flow control members which are adapted to mate to form said liquid ow-passageways to permit flushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, a support member inthe casing downstream of said flow control members, re-` silient means positioned between said support member and sai-d movable tlow control member andnormall,l biasing said movable flow control member to a position where said flow passageways are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for mating to form saidrilow passage ways are exposed to permit flushing thereof, Aand the.

Cil

pressure of liquid flowingthrough said aerator being operative to overcome the bias of said resilient means to move said movable ow control member to a position where the ow passageways are re-formed and the apparatus functions to produce an aerated ow of liquid,

and fish-tailv shaped means downstream of said support member for defining an aerated stream of discharged liquid of relatively great length and small width.

Y3. A liquid aerator comprising a` casing having Vits upstream end adapted for connection to a`source of` liquid under pressure, said casing having air g. inlets therein, means within the casing for sucking air into the casing through the air inlets and for breakingl u p theVV ow of liquid passingtherethrough and forrmixing the liquid with air sucked in through said air inlets, whereby the liquid issuing from theA downstream end of thercasing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means including a -pair of flow control members having adjacent mating surfaces whichV form liquid flow passageways therbetween, one of said flow control members being movable with respect to theother ilow control member so as to expose the surfaces of said ow control members which are adapted to mate to form said liquid :flow passageways to permit llushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, a support member in the casing downstream of said ow control members, resilient means -positioned between said sup port member and said movable ow control member and normally biasing said movable ow control member to a position where said ow passageways are open,and said surfaces which are adapted for mating to form said flow passageways are exposed to permit flushing thereof. and the pressure of4 liquid flowing through said aerator being operative to overcome the bias of Vsaid resilient means to move lsaid movable ilow controly member to a position where the flow passageways are re-formed and the apparatus functions to produce an aerated ow ,of liquid, and apertured means downstream of said support member dividing the discharge ow of aerated iluid into a plurality of discrete aerated streams. f

4. A liquid aerator comprising a casing having its 'up- Y stream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid 8g through the air inlets and for breaking up the ow of liquid passingftherethrough and forimixing the liquid with air sucked in'throu'gh said air inlets, wherebyy the liquid issuing' fromth'e.,downstream` `end of the casing f hassmall bubblesadissemina'ted throughout, said means bers which are adapted to mate to form said liquid flow passageways to permit flushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, a support member in the casing downstream of said ow control members, resilient means positioned between said support member and said movable flowl control member and normally biasing'said movablecow control member to a position where said flow passageways are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for mating toforrn said flow passageways are exposed to permit ushing thereof, and the pressure of liquid flowing through said aerator being operative to overcome the bias of said resilient means to move said movableow controlV member to a position where the llow passageways are re-formed and the apparatus functions to produce an aerated ow `of liquid, a screen in said casing downstream ofrsaid support memt ber, and apertured means downstream of said support..

member and saidscreen dividing the discharge owvA of aerated uid into a plurality of discrete `-divergent streams. t g Y 5. A liquid aerator comprising a casing having its up# stream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said casing having air inlets therein, means within the casing for sucking air into, thecasing through the air inlets and for breaking up the flow of liquid passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid with air suckedin through said air inlets, ywhereby the liquid issuing from the downstream end of the casing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means including a pair of flow` control members having adjacent matingsurfaces which formV liquid ow passageways therebetween, one of said ow control members being bers which are adapted to mate to form said liquid ow passageways topermit flushing of said surfaces by liql uid passing through the aerator, a support member in the casing downstream of said flow control members, resilient means positioned between said support 4member and said movable ilowV control member( and`- normally biasing saidA movable flow control member -to a position where saidV ow passageways are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for mating to form said flow passageways are exposed to permit flushing thereof, and the pressure of liquid flowing through said aerator being operative torovercome the bias of said resilient means to move said movable flow control member to a position where the flow passageways are reformed and the apparatus functions to produce an aerated tlow of liquid, a screen in said casing downstream of said supportY Ymember, stream forming means defining a transverse stream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, `said casing having air inlets therein, means within-the casing for sucking air into said casing through said air inletsmand for breakingV up'theow of liquid passingtherethrough and for mixing the liquid with air sucked inthrough s aidvair inlets, whereby the liquid issuing from the downstream end of the casing has small .g bubbles disseminated t-hrugiieutpsaidy means ineluding a pii' of flood ccntrollrieibers yliavi-n'g djceiifriiatiiig surfacesv which form liquid flowl passageways therebetween, one of said flow control x'rrembersy being `r'novable with respect to the other flow vcontrol member so as to expose the surfaces of said flow controll members which are adapted to mate' to form saidliquid flow passageways to permit" flushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, and aV break-up member secured to' said movable ow control member and positioned downstream o f said flow control members, said break-up mem-V ber being positioned to` have the liquid which ows through said passageways impinge thereon to finely break up the liquid, a support` member downstream of said break-upV member, a recess in the downstream side Vof said break-up member, a helical spring on said support member entering said recess in the break-up member and engaging the break-up member,v said helical spring normally biasing said movable ilowcontrol member to a position where the ilow passageways between saidow control` members are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for' mating to form said ow passageways are exposed to permit ushig thereof, the pressure of liquid flowing through said aerator being operative to overcome thebias of said resilient means to move said movable flow control member to a position where the iiow passageways are re-formed andthe apparatus functions to produce an aerated flow of liquid, and an annular flange on said break-up member surrounding said recess and said helical spring and extending downstream of said breakup member.

7. A liquid aeratorl comprising a casing having its upstream en'dadapted for connection to a-source ofliquid under pressure, said casing having air inlets therein, means within the casing for sucking air into said casing through said air inlets and for breaking up the flow of liquid passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid with air sucked in through said air inlets, wherebyI the liquid issuing from the downstream end of the casing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means including a pair of flow control members having adjacent mating surfaces which form liquid iiow passageways therebetween, one of said flow control members being movable with respect to the other flow control member so as to expose the surfaces of said flow control members which are adapted to mate to form said liquid ow passageways to permit flushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, and a break-up member secured to said movable flow control member and positioned downstream of said flow control members, said break-up member being positioned to have the liquid which ows through said passageways impinge thereon to iinely break up the liquid, a support member downstream of said break-up member, a recess in the downstream side of said break-up member, a helical spring on said support member entering said recess in the break-up member and engaging the break-up member, said helical spring normally biasing said movable How control member to a position where the :ow passageways between said llow control members are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for mating to form said ilow passageways are exposed to permit ilushing thereof, the pressure of liquid owing through said aerator being operative to overcome the bias of said resilient means to move said movable flow control member to a position where the flow passageways are re-formed and the apparatus functions to produce an aeratedflow of liquid, an annular flange on said break-up member surrounding said recess and saidk helical spring and extending downstream of said break-up member, and a manually operable stem positioned substantially concentrically within said helical spring and extending through said support member, and adapted, when manually operated, to engage and maintain said movable flow control member in a position s tti the passageways'are open'frs'hing' thereof lyia p'iressi'1rev greater' than the bias of `said springi.v

8. A liquid yaerator comprising acasingV having its' tips t',1"ea1nl"ii end adapted for' c'onineetio'riV to a source' ofZ liquid underv pressure, `said casing yhaving' air inlet-s therein, means within 'the casing for sucking air into said casing through said air inlets and for breaking up the ow of liquid-'passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid with airsueked ini through said air inlets, whereby the liquid issuing fr'O'm't-he downstream end of the casing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means in-l cluding` ai` pairf flow control members having adjacentmating surfaees which form liquid flow passageways there-Y between, orie of said' flow control members being movable with respect` to 'the other flow control member so as toI expose the surfaces of said flow control memberswhich are adapted to ,mat'etoV lform said liquid flow passageways to permit ilushing of said'surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator', a support member inthe casing downstream of said flow control members, resilient means positioned between said support member and said movable flow control member and normally biasing said movable flow control member to a position where said flow passageway are open, and said surfaces which are'adapted for mating to for-m said Yflow passageways are exposed to permitk flushing thereof, and the pressure of liquid flowing through said aerator being operativeA to overcome the bias of said resilient', means ,to Imove said movable flow Control member to aposition' where the flow passage- Ways are re-formed and the apparatusfunctions to produce' anaerated, flow of liquid, and means carried by said aerator being manually operable to a `position of opera.- tive association with vkSaid movable ycontrol member' for selectively maintaining the passageways open against the pressure of liquid flowing therethrough to permit flushing of said passageways at'a fluid pressure higher than the biasing force developed by said resilient means.

9. A liquid aerator comprising a casing having its upstream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said casing having air inlets therein, means within the casing for sucking air into said casing through said air inlets and for breaking up the ow of liquid passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid with air sucked in through said air inlets, whereby the liquid issuing from the downstream end of the casing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, saidrmeans including a pair of flow control members having adjacent mating surfaces which form liquid flow passageways therebetween, oneof said flow control members being movable with respect to the other ow control member so as to expose the surfaces of said flow control members which are adapted to mate to form said liquid ow passageways to permit ushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, a support member in the casing downstream of said flow control members, resilient means positioned between said support member and said mov-Y able ilow control member and normally biasing said movable flow control member to a position where said flowsV Y passageways are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for mating to form said flow passageways are exposed to permit flushing thereof, and the pressure of liquid flowing through said aerator being operative to overcome the bias of said resilient means to move said movable ow control member to a position where the ow passageways are re-formed and the apparatus functions to produce an aerated ow of liquid, and means carried by said aerator being manually operable to a position of operative association with said movable control member for selectively maintaining the passageways open against the pressure of liquid owing therethrough to permit flushing of said passageways at a iluid pressure higher than the biasing force developed by said resilient means, said means including a stem secured to said movable control member and positioned to be manually Y '11Y t where said passageways are open, thereby aifording means for'maintaining the passageways open againstv the pressureof fluid owing through the casing, j

-10; AV liquid aerator "comprising a casing having its upstream end adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said casing having air inlets therein, means within the casing for sucking air into said casing through said air inlets and forbreaking upthe flow of liquid passing therethrough and for mixing the liquid with air sucked in through said air inlets, wherebythe liquid issuing from the downstream end of the casing has small bubbles disseminated throughout, said means including a pair of ow controlmembers having adjacent mating Y surfaces which form liquid ow passageways therebetween, one of said ow control members being movable with respect tothe other ow control member so as to expose the surfaces of said ilow control members which are adapted to mate to form said liquid flow passageways to permit ushing of said surfaces by liquid passing through the aerator, a support member in the casing downstream of said flow control members, resilient means positioned between said support member and said movable flow control member and normally biasing said movable ow control member to a position where'said ilow passageways are open, and said surfaces which are adapted for'mating to form said ow passageways are exposed to permit ushing thereof, and the pressure of liquid owing through said aeratorA being operative to overcome the bias of said resilient means to move said movable ow control member to a position where the flow passageways are re-formed and the 'apparatus func tions to produce'an aerated ow of liquid, and means carried by said aerator being manually operable to a position of operative association with said movable control member for selectively `maintaining the passageways open against the pressure of liquid flowing` therethrough to permit ushing of 'sadpassag'eways `at a `fluid pressure higher thanthe biasing force developed by said resilient means, said means including a stem carried by said support member and manually operable to a position of operative association with said movable member where the passageways are maintained opened against the presf sure of iluid flowing through the casing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,835 Doyle `May 31, 1938 2,140,838 Hart Dec. 20, 1938 2,210,846 Aghnides Aug. 6,1940 2,299,852 Shaner et al. Oct.'27, 1942 2,423,965 Bicknell et al July`15, 1947l V2,565,554 Goodrie Aug. 2,8,` 1951 2,583,232 Russell Jan. 22, 1952 2,583,234 Russell et a1 Jan. 22, 1952` 2,633,343 Aghnides Mar. 31, A1953' 2,643,104' Holden June 23, 19.53 2,653,517 Pigott Sept. 29, 1953 2,675,218 Bletcher Apr. 13, 1954 2,680,649 Hansen 7 June 8, 1954 2,688,515 Filliung Sept. 7, 1954 2,707,624 'shammes Aer al, May 3, 1955 2,811,340 Aghnides Oct. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS` V698,691 GreatY Britain Oct. 2l, 1953 France of 1951 

